death incarnate & night triumphant

That shock clings to the Fae man as he stands there, taking in the honey blonde woman, his nostrils flaring as he breathes in the scents around him. Why was she here? He voices that question then, the hunter looking at him with curiosity. She provides more information shortly after, Andras struggling to not furrow his brows in worry, instead, he allows an easy smile to slip onto his face, that mask burying every outward emotion of anxiety as he gives a simple shrug. "Don't worry about calling her, I just remembered that she did say she was going to visit her parents, I must have gotten the days mixed up on her return date," he provides a comforting smile, not pushing the subject. "Thank you for watching her apartment," he gives a dip of his head before turning away from the woman, making himself slowly take the stairs one at a time. It was possible that Lani was visiting her parents and yet, dread had begun to curl in his stomach. He couldn't place why, it was obvious the grieving girl would return to her parents, they were a comforting presence in her life but worry still knits his brow as he descends those stairs and exits the building into the warm breeze outside.

Andras was suddenly glad Ida convinced him to invest in a cell phone as he casually pulls it from his pocket, searching for one of those online phone books as he quickly scans the names and numbers. It hardly takes long for him to find them, "Rose" being a fairly easy name to track down. Memorizing the number, he quickly dials the landline, the sound of ringing filling his ear for only a moment before a woman's voice picks up. "Hello Mrs. Rose, this is Andras, I was wondering if Lani was there," he asks, his tone carefully neutral as the woman pauses before launching into conversation, "Hi Andras, no she's not here, when she didn't show up I assumed you two worked things out," she states brightly though there's a tinge of worry coloring her voice. "Yes, yes we did. She must be at work, I think I do remember her telling me she was covering a shift but she was also mentioning coming out to visit you," he lies through his teeth, his voice easy going as he hides that utter panic that grips him fiercely.

"I'll run by her work and check on her, thank you again Mrs. Rose, it was a pleasure meeting you," he states quickly before exchanging goodbyes and hanging up his phone. Quickly, he hammers in Lani's number before bringing it up to his ear, ringing twice, she picks up, her breathing can be heard through the phone. He almost lets out a sigh, interrupting her before she can say a word, "Lani - I'm sorry, where are you?" He asks quickly, relief swirling through him. There's a pause on her end, "I know you're upset with me, please can we-," he's interrupted by a cool and calculating voice, "Hello Andras," a distinctly male voice fills the phone. His entire body stiffens, his eyes narrowing almost immediately, "Who is this?" he growls, letting that rage slip into his tenors, "I suppose it doesn't matter if I tell you or not," he sighs as if wistfully, "My name's Cass and I have your darling Lani right here," he states and Andras can hear that grin spreading across his features.

It was a title he had reserved for only Lani as fear tightens around his chest. Had he really been lacking in being observant? He was certain he was protecting her, that no one was aware of his visits to the woman, truly, it was why they spent the majority of the time in Somnia. Clenching his jaw, he tightens his fingers around the phone as he comes close to breaking it, "If you touch her, I will rip you apart and then burn you to pieces," his voice drops into a deadly tone, violence dripping from his words. There's another pause before the man speaks again, "Too late. The ritual will be finished tonight," his voice is light and carefree as if he didn't care he had been threatened. "Goodbye Andras," he says then, quickly hanging up the phone. Andras stands there, on the middle of the street, his phone still touching his ear as he stares at the ground, violence radiating off him like a storm.

Lowering his hand, he hardly notices the way he crushes his phone between his hand, the glass shards cutting into his palm as tiny droplets of blood begin to form within his hand. Dropping the broken device to the ground, hazel eyes snap up to attention, death clearly written within his gaze as his mind begins to list off the possible places she could be, Where are you? Where are you? Where are you? his mind rattles with the question. He hardly knew where to even start. Making his way into the nearby alleyway, he doesn't even take his shirt off before his wings explode from his back, shredding the button up. Shrugging off the shredded remains, he flares his wings as he prepares himself to launch into the sky. The man hardly cared if someone saw him, saw those identifying appendages that so closely resembled those of a bat's. His one and only goal was to find Lani, to save her, before it was too late.

Andras Steinhello darling